East Lincoln forfeits game

East Lincoln's football team was forced to forfeit its Sept. 16 win against Bessemer City after having an ineligible player dress out, the Gaston Gazette reports.  The Mustangs' record is now 3-3 (1-1 in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A).

The Mustangs travels to Lincolnton for their annual rivalry game tonight. Instead of being tied with the Wolves (5-1, 2-0) on top of the SPC standings, East Lincoln is now a game behind after the forfeit.

For more info: http://bit.ly/q4VgL5.

Wildcat teams honored for academics

The N.C. High School Athletics Association recognized two Lake Norman High teams for their work in the classroom Tuesday, as the school's boys' track and boys' lacrosse squads were named the recipients of the AAA NCHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award.

The honor is given to the team with the best grade point average in the state for the semester in which its sport competes.

Lake Norman's boy's track team had a GPA of 3.527, while the Wildcats' boys' lacrosse team earned a 3.360 this spring.

AAA NCHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Awards - Spring 2011

SPORT	SCHOOL	GPA
Softball	Hayesville	3.891
Baseball	Western Alamance	3.649
Men's Tennis	Walter Williams	3.880
Women's Soccer	Western Alamance	3.747
Men's Track	Lake Norman	3.527
Women's Track	Tuscola	3.683
Men’s Golf	Walter Williams	3.840
Women's Lacrosse	Mount Tabor	3.510
Men's Lacrosse	Lake Norman	3.360

Mustang running back continues to put up big numbers

East Lincoln's Marcus "Bubba" McDowell had a big game Friday night against Southern Piedmont 1A/2A rivals North Lincoln.

The senior running back rushed for 237 yards and five touchdowns on 15 carries in the Mustangs' 47-7 win.

McDowell is averaging 9.78 yards per carry this season, already surpassing the 1,000-yard mark and scoring 19 touchdowns on the ground. He's also caught nine passes for 316 yards - an average of 35 yards per catch - and five touchdowns.

The explosive, speedy McDowell and East Lincoln (4-2, 2-0) will travel to archival Lincolnton (5-1, 2-0) Friday with first place in the SPC at stake.

Sophomore golfer picked to play in junior tournament

COURTESY OF DAVIDSON DAY

Davidson Day sophomore golfer Kyle Fuller has been selected to play in the Dormie Cup, Oct. 15-16, in West End, N.C.

The competition pairs some of the top 24 junior golfers in the country in a two-day, Ryder Cup-style event. Fuller, the son of Micah and Sandra Fuller of Huntersville, is trying to raise $1,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project as part of his participation in the tournament. For details, click here.

Recently, Fuller shot a 1-under 71 in the American Junior Golf Association's Webb Simpson Tournament in Winston-Salem. He placed fourth out of 85, earning him an AJGA tour exemption in 2012.

His new playing partner and instructor is Nationwide tour player Corey Nagy, a four-time All-American and Atlantic-10 Player of the Year at UNC Charlotte.

Fuller led Davidson Day to its first Southern Piedmont Athletic Association championship and a fifth-place finish in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association's 1A tournament last year. He finished third in the state and earned all-state honors.

Blue Devil guard commits to Charlotte

Shawn Lester, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Mooresville High, has committed to Charlotte. Lester chose the 49ers over Clemson and South Carolina.

Lester, a senior, averaged 18.5 points, five assists and five steals for the Blue Devils (19-11 last year), who lost to Western 4A regional qualifier Olympic in the first round of the playoffs.

"I thought that was right for me," Lester said. "It'll help me get my degree and help me be a better player and I hope to help them win."

Lester said the Charlotte staff told him he'd play shooting guard.

"I'm comfortable with the shooting guard position," he said. "I'm glad I can get this (college choice) done early and focus on my academics and focus on getting ready for my senior season."

- Langston Wertz Jr.

Mooney named high school catcher of the year

North Mecklenburg's Sarah "Boomer" Mooney continues to garner more honors.

After being named All-I-Meck conference, all-state and even All-American, today she was named the 2011 national high school catcher of the year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Diamond Sports. This is the second year Mooney has earned the honor.

The award is presented annually to the top catcher from an NFCA member institution in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Divisions I, II and III), NAIA, NJCAA (Divisions I, II and III), Cal JC, NWAACC and high school.

Mooney, a James Madison commit, had a .779 batting average this spring, hitting 19 home runs along the way to lead her Vikings to a 24-4 record. Behind the plate, Mooney did not allow a single error in 272 chances and allowed only two passed balls while also throwing out 12 base runners.

Hopewell shortstop gets all-state honors

The N.C. Baseball Coaches Association named Hopewell's Michael Russell to its 4A all-state team.

The shortstop had a dominant season for the Titans, recording a team-best .506 batting average to go along with 38 runs and 23 RBIs.

That performance earned the graduating senior, who will play college ball at North Carolina next year, I-Meck baseball Player of the Year honors.

Here is the complete NCBCA 4A all-state team:

Dillon Maples, Pinecrest
Alex Raburn, Durham Jordan
Matt Orth, SW Guilford
Michael Russell, Hopewell
Jordan Ramsey, North Davidson
Travis Cook, South Caldwell
Lou Adams, South View
Jonathon Kelly, Ashley
Josh Tobias, Southeast Guilford
Will Butler, Wakefield
Brien Taylor, Harnett Central
Logan Ratledge, Ardrey Kell
A J. Larson, Butler
Alex Ledford, T.C. Roberson
Carson Bryant, T.C. Robeson
Alex Jensen, Charlotte Catholic
Jordan Newsome, Weddington
Brett Austin, Providence
Curt Britt, Scotland County
Chris McCue, Ardrey Kell
Coley Thompkins, Hoggard
Jake Fincher, Providence
Jason Creasey, Clayton
Justin Manning, Holly Springs
Matt Soiter, New Bern
Charlie Herring, J.H. Rose
Luke Dunlap, East Forsyth
Dillon Frye, Lee County
Carlos Rodon, Holly Springs - Player of the Year